Words of Wisdom: Summer Jobs

“Some people are like Slinkys; they don’t really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.”–Author Unknown

When it comes to summer jobs for students, don’t be a Slinky. Don’t go for the big bucks at a job that you may hate for a purpose you cannot explain. You will be miserable. Go for the relevant, meaningful experience (whatever it pays) that will help your future endeavours – whatever they may be.

My last summer job was as a camp counsellor in 1994 at a YWCA camp on Sylvan Lake. The pay was so-so, the weather was hit-and-miss and the lake was frigid when I jumped in at six every morning as part of the Polar-Dip challenge. However, the experience was invaluable and the benefits life-lasting.
At the time, I had two years of university left, and I had already decided to pursue teaching as a career. However, textbooks and professors only show you so much about how to relate to youths and teach them something along the way. So, I decided to get some real-life experience.

Long story short – it went very well, and I made some dear friends out of co-workers who are still (15 years later) friends of mine today. I’ve been teaching for 12 years now, and I love it more each year.

So, at the risk of sounding like a bad Hallmark card, do what you love and you will love what you do. Find a job you want – not one that you need. Good luck job hunting, and have a great summer avoiding the curse of the Slinky!